#wellness-dimensions
#wellness-dimensions

19 hours ago

Writing

I'm 66 and I spent four decades chasing the version of happiness I saw in other people's living rooms - and the day I stopped, I noticed I'd been happy in my own kitchen all along - Silicon Canals

A Meditation to Allow Genuine Happiness, Even In Hard Times

Accessing genuine happiness during difficult times is essential for recovery and well-being.

Relationships

I'm 73 and my husband asked me what makes me happy and I gave him the answer I thought he wanted to hear - our kids, our grandkids, our home - but the real answer is I genuinely don't know anymore because I've spent forty years editing my joy to fit other people's expectations - Silicon Canals

Editing joy to fit others' expectations can lead to losing sight of what truly makes one happy.

Shake Off Winter Blues: Brain-Healthy Habits for This Spring

Tracking happiness too closely can reduce enjoyment; supporting gut health and replacing bad habits with healthier ones can enhance overall well-being.

Writing

19 hours ago

I'm 66 and I spent four decades chasing the version of happiness I saw in other people's living rooms - and the day I stopped, I noticed I'd been happy in my own kitchen all along - Silicon Canals

Measuring happiness against others' lives leads to perpetual dissatisfaction and obscures personal contentment.

A Meditation to Allow Genuine Happiness, Even In Hard Times

Accessing genuine happiness during difficult times is essential for recovery and well-being.

I'm 73 and my husband asked me what makes me happy and I gave him the answer I thought he wanted to hear - our kids, our grandkids, our home - but the real answer is I genuinely don't know anymore because I've spent forty years editing my joy to fit other people's expectations - Silicon Canals

Editing joy to fit others' expectations can lead to losing sight of what truly makes one happy.

Shake Off Winter Blues: Brain-Healthy Habits for This Spring

Tracking happiness too closely can reduce enjoyment; supporting gut health and replacing bad habits with healthier ones can enhance overall well-being.

How to Embrace Being "More" Spiritual

Awareness of the transcendent reveals depth and meaning in life, fostering spiritual growth and a sense of oneness with the world.

Psychology says people who feel like they've been living someone else's life aren't confused or ungrateful - they're often the ones who were so good at adapting in childhood that they never stopped adapting long enough to find out who they actually were - Silicon Canals

Adapting to others' needs in childhood can lead to feeling disconnected and lost in adulthood.

Retirement

14 hours ago

I spent a decade building a career I thought I wanted, a house I thought I needed, and a persona I thought would finally make me real - and one Saturday morning over coffee I sat with the quiet certainty that I had built all of it for someone who no longer lived inside me - Silicon Canals

Building a life based on societal expectations can lead to a personal crisis when the facade becomes unsustainable.

8 hours ago

Psychology says people who feel like they've been living someone else's life aren't confused or ungrateful - they're often the ones who were so good at adapting in childhood that they never stopped adapting long enough to find out who they actually were - Silicon Canals

Adapting to others' needs in childhood can lead to feeling disconnected and lost in adulthood.

Retirement

14 hours ago

I spent a decade building a career I thought I wanted, a house I thought I needed, and a persona I thought would finally make me real - and one Saturday morning over coffee I sat with the quiet certainty that I had built all of it for someone who no longer lived inside me - Silicon Canals

Building a life based on societal expectations can lead to a personal crisis when the facade becomes unsustainable.

How To Safely Drink Fire Cider To Enjoy The Amazing Benefits - Tasting Table

Fire cider is a traditional herbal vinegar tonic known for its immune-boosting properties and is safe to consume when diluted.

Social justice

6 hours ago

Helping Black Women Remove the Mask

Black women navigate stereotypes and require therapy to reclaim their authenticity while clinicians must advocate against oppressive systems.

Design

fromwww.businessinsider.com

8 hours ago

The Future of Brain Health Is Architecture

The built environment significantly influences mental health, mood, and performance, with neuroscience guiding design for improved well-being.

15 hours ago

A doctor shares 3 simple healthy aging habits from Norway, an underrated longevity hotspot

Norwegians are a great lens to teach us about some healthy longevity practices. The Norwegian diet is a significant factor. It's been described as the cold-weather cousin to the Mediterranean diet.

Wellness

Women in technology

fromwww.theguardian.com

What to know about the controversial practice of orgasmic meditation'

Nicole Daedone's OneTaste, promoting orgasmic meditation, faced severe backlash after coercion allegations led to her federal prison sentence.

4 hours ago

Tips for Overcoming Springtime Breakups

Breakups can significantly impact self-esteem, but recovery is possible within three months unless hindered by rumination.

Yes, Your Breath Can Help Quiet Your Mind and Reduce Stress. Here's How.

Ujjayi Breath involves a breathing technique that utilizes the diaphragm, enhancing respiratory function and connecting the body to universal principles.

#yoga

Parenting

The Easiest Way to Deepen Your Yoga Practice? Teach It to a Child.

15-Minute Slow Yoga to Boost Your Energy

Slower, purposeful yoga movements can effectively boost energy and create sustainable vitality.

Overwhelmed by Tough Emotions? This Advice Can Help You Navigate Them.

Exclusive playlists for O+ members offer yoga insights to cope with life's challenges through mindful consumption.

Parenting

The Easiest Way to Deepen Your Yoga Practice? Teach It to a Child.

Parenting transformed yoga practice into a consistent, shared experience of mindfulness and presence with a child.

15-Minute Slow Yoga to Boost Your Energy

Slower, purposeful yoga movements can effectively boost energy and create sustainable vitality.

Overwhelmed by Tough Emotions? This Advice Can Help You Navigate Them.

Exclusive playlists for O+ members offer yoga insights to cope with life's challenges through mindful consumption.

Turns Out There's a Way to Get Drunk Without Booze

Auto-brewery syndrome causes the body to produce alcohol naturally, leading to intoxication without drinking.

Bootstrapping

fromEntrepreneur

How to Treat Your Successes Like Renewable Resources

Success can create pressure and lead to misaligned goals for entrepreneurs, making them feel obligated rather than fulfilled.

Wearables

Finally, a wearable designed for women approaching menopause

A new wearable device called Peri helps women monitor perimenopause symptoms and lifestyle factors.

Exercise

Building Confidence Through Small Victories

Naming tasks and completing small actions can rebuild confidence after significant loss.

When Nothing Is Wrong, but Something Still Isn't Right

Consistency in daily habits can lead to significant improvements in health symptoms.

fromApaonline

Philosophy

Why is Health Good for You?

Medicine

When Nothing Is Wrong, but Something Still Isn't Right

Consistency in daily habits can lead to significant improvements in health symptoms.

fromApaonline

Philosophy

Why is Health Good for You?

Mental health

What Does Mental Well-Being Look Like?

Relationships

Why your next PTO day should be a 'skip day'

People who are quietly unhappy with life don't always look unhappy - they look tired, they look busy, they look like they're managing, and the managing is the performance and the performance is the problem and the problem is invisible to everyone who mistakes a well-maintained surface for evidence of what's underneath it - Silicon Canals

Quiet unhappiness manifests as chronic exhaustion and the performance of being okay, often disguised by busyness and emotional labor.

Mental health

You Budget Your Money. Why Not Your Mental Health?

When a Diagnosis Becomes Your Entire Identity

Diagnosis can aid understanding and community, but over-identifying with it can harm personal growth and self-identity.

The Link Between Medicine and Psychology

Mental health significantly impacts heart and brain health, necessitating integration of mental health care into traditional medical practices.

What Does Mental Well-Being Look Like?

Mental health should be viewed positively, focusing on well-being rather than just the absence of illness.

Why your next PTO day should be a 'skip day'

Skip day is a tradition where friends take a mental health day off work to enjoy time together, promoting well-being and connection.

People who are quietly unhappy with life don't always look unhappy - they look tired, they look busy, they look like they're managing, and the managing is the performance and the performance is the problem and the problem is invisible to everyone who mistakes a well-maintained surface for evidence of what's underneath it - Silicon Canals

Quiet unhappiness manifests as chronic exhaustion and the performance of being okay, often disguised by busyness and emotional labor.

You Budget Your Money. Why Not Your Mental Health?

Mental health and financial health share foundational habits that lead to freedom and self-determination, emphasizing the importance of a diversified mental health plan.

When a Diagnosis Becomes Your Entire Identity

Diagnosis can aid understanding and community, but over-identifying with it can harm personal growth and self-identity.

The Link Between Medicine and Psychology

Mental health significantly impacts heart and brain health, necessitating integration of mental health care into traditional medical practices.

I'm 66 and the most important relationship of my adult life has been with solitude - not as a consolation for the company I didn't have, but as the place where I have always been most honest, most creative, and most recognizably myself, and I spent too many years being embarrassed about that before I understood it was simply how I was built - Silicon Canals

Solitude allows for self-discovery and personal reflection, free from societal expectations and external pressures.

14 hours ago

Not everyone who avoids asking for help is proud. Some of them asked once, received it with a lecture attached, and learned that the cost of support was a small erosion of standing they could never quite earn back. - Silicon Canals

Asking for help can lead to unintended consequences that affect relationships and self-perception.

When Your Partner Doesn't Share Your Spiritual Path

Partners need common values and autonomy, while exploring codependency mindfully.

Psychology says the most important life lesson isn't learning to make better decisions - it's learning to live peacefully with the ones you can't undo - Silicon Canals

Irreversible choices shape our lives and learning to coexist with them is crucial for mental well-being.

fromAlternative Medicine Magazine

3 Keys to Optimal Living in the Second Half of Life

Positive views of aging and a sense of purpose enhance vitality and well-being in later life.

Alternative medicine

What's a Functional Medical Clinic, and Is It Right for You?

Functional medicine addresses root causes of health issues, focusing on a whole-person approach rather than just treating symptoms.

Retirement

I'm 66 and I spent forty years trying to stay positive through everything - and what I actually created was a life where nobody knew me well enough to notice when I was drowning - Silicon Canals

Staying positive can lead to hidden struggles and emotional isolation, as individuals often mask their true feelings to appear strong.

fromRealagriculture

Breaking up with burnout starts with better boundaries

I recognize now, if I had had boundaries back then, I never would have gotten there... I don't want other women, other professionals to go through that depth of pain.

Women

#work-life-balance

fromBackyard Garden Lover

14 Ways To Reset After Work So You Feel Human Again

A productive after-work routine enhances work-life balance and improves overall quality of life.

fromYahoo Life

14 Ways to Reset After Work So You Feel Human Again

A productive after-work routine enhances work-life balance and improves overall quality of life.

fromBackyard Garden Lover

14 Ways To Reset After Work So You Feel Human Again

A productive after-work routine enhances work-life balance and improves overall quality of life.

fromYahoo Life

14 Ways to Reset After Work So You Feel Human Again

A productive after-work routine enhances work-life balance and improves overall quality of life.

more#work-life-balance

5 hours ago

When the Body Heals: Recovery From Relational Stress

Emotional stressors can lead to chronic stress, affecting immunity and increasing autoimmune disease risk, but healing can occur after relational stress ends.

Healthcare

The Value of Everyday Healthcare and Mental Healthcare

Everyday kindness and professionalism are essential for effective healthcare and mental healthcare.

fromwww.theguardian.com

Stop the brain rot! 12 ways to stay sharp in a mind-frazzling world

Brain rot, characterized by cognitive decline from easy information, is rising due to social media and shortform videos, leading to exhaustion.

Can Listening Move You to Love?

High-quality listening evokes Kama Muta, a powerful emotion of feeling moved by love, fostering emotional closeness in both listeners and speakers.

#loneliness

Writing

I'm 66 and the loneliest I've ever felt wasn't after my children left or my friends moved away - it was the morning I woke up and realized I had nothing that needed me, nothing that depended on my showing up, and the whole day stretched ahead like a road with no destination - Silicon Canals

Psychology says the loneliest people in life aren't the ones nobody likes - they're the kind, helpful people everyone appreciates but nobody thinks to check on because they seem so self-sufficient - Silicon Canals

Highly capable, helpful individuals often feel lonely because their strength creates an illusion that they do not need support.

Psychology

Psychology says the people who actually escape loneliness don't do it by finding more people - they do it by finally dropping the version of themselves that made real connection impossible in the first place - Silicon Canals

Writing

I'm 66 and the loneliest I've ever felt wasn't after my children left or my friends moved away - it was the morning I woke up and realized I had nothing that needed me, nothing that depended on my showing up, and the whole day stretched ahead like a road with no destination - Silicon Canals

Loneliness can stem from feeling unnecessary, not just from being alone.

Psychology says the loneliest people in life aren't the ones nobody likes - they're the kind, helpful people everyone appreciates but nobody thinks to check on because they seem so self-sufficient - Silicon Canals

Highly capable, helpful individuals often feel lonely because their strength creates an illusion that they do not need support.

Psychology says the people who actually escape loneliness don't do it by finding more people - they do it by finally dropping the version of themselves that made real connection impossible in the first place - Silicon Canals

Loneliness stems from a lack of genuine connection, not merely from being alone or having many acquaintances.

Wellness

These 7 wellness gadgets helped me become more mindful (and they're still on sale)

Technology can enhance mindfulness and wellness through various devices that promote presence, stress relief, and better sleep.

Seven Strengths for an Uncertain World

Inner strengths can be cultivated to help individuals thrive in a fast-paced, uncertain world.

fromZDNET

These 7 wellness gadgets helped me become more mindful (and they're still on sale)

Technology can enhance mindfulness and wellness through various devices that promote presence, stress relief, and better sleep.

Seven Strengths for an Uncertain World

Inner strengths can be cultivated to help individuals thrive in a fast-paced, uncertain world.

You know a woman has lost her joy in life when she describes her days accurately and without feeling - when the words are all correct and the tone is completely flat and the account of her own life sounds like something being reported rather than lived, and she doesn't notice the flatness because she has been inside it long enough that it just sounds like how things are - Silicon Canals

Emotional flatness can creep in, making life feel like a series of tasks rather than meaningful experiences.

Mental Time Travel Is Our Ticket for a Healthier Society

Short-term thinking can lead to regrets; mental time travel enhances decision-making and benefits organizations through Future Design.

Podcast

3 weeks ago

Finding balance isn't an act. It's a choice

Balance requires subtle, continuous adjustments and intentional choices about who to be, not just what to do.

4 hours ago

I'm 66 and I woke up last Thursday and realized I couldn't name a single thing I was looking forward to - not because nothing good was happening but because I'd trained myself to find meaning in being needed and nobody needs me anymore - Silicon Canals

Finding purpose in being needed can lead to a loss of personal desires and identity after retirement.

How to Help Someone Have an Empathy Makeover

Empathy can be developed through structured reflection and practice, enhancing mental health and relationship dynamics.

fromBustle

How To Survive Festival Season When You Get Migraines

Migraines can be triggered by music festival environments, but with proper preparation, attendees can manage their symptoms and enjoy the experience.

I'm 66 and I finally learned the hardest lesson isn't that people will disappoint you - it's that you'll disappoint yourself by pretending you don't need what you need until you forget what that even was - Silicon Canals

Neglecting emotional needs leads to a profound sense of loss and disconnection from oneself and others.

5 hours ago

I'm 37 and the friendships in my life that have lasted are the ones where we stopped pretending - stopped curating what we showed each other, stopped performing the version of our lives that made sense on paper - and what replaced the pretending is the best thing I have built in the last decade - Silicon Canals

Authentic friendships emerge when individuals drop their facades and share their true struggles with each other.

The Pitfalls of Being a People-Pleaser

Voicing opinions is essential; people-pleasing can lead to neglecting personal needs and preferences.

Just One Thing: Be Kind to Yourself by Being Kind to Others

Recognizing the importance of kindness to others leads to personal peace and fulfillment.

I'm 37 and I realized I wasn't actually a good person the day my wife said "you're kind to strangers and cruel to the people closest to you" - and the worst part wasn't the accusation, it was that I couldn't argue because I'd been using up all my patience on people who didn't matter and coming home empty - Silicon Canals

Kindness should be abundant at home, not rationed for public interactions, to foster authentic connections with loved ones.

Just One Thing: Be Kind to Yourself by Being Kind to Others

Recognizing the importance of kindness to others leads to personal peace and fulfillment.

I'm 37 and I realized I wasn't actually a good person the day my wife said "you're kind to strangers and cruel to the people closest to you" - and the worst part wasn't the accusation, it was that I couldn't argue because I'd been using up all my patience on people who didn't matter and coming home empty - Silicon Canals

Kindness should be abundant at home, not rationed for public interactions, to foster authentic connections with loved ones.

There's a specific kind of tiredness that has nothing to do with sleep. It comes from years of translating yourself into a version that other people could handle, and the exhaustion lives in the gap between who you are and who you've been performing so consistently that even you forgot there was a difference. - Silicon Canals

Workplace burnout often stems from the exhaustion of pretending to be someone you're not, rather than from overwork itself.

Dangerous Social Trends Do Not Advance Your Potential

You have control over your own thoughts and actions, but not over others' choices or behaviors.

WTF Is a Wellness Festival? An Antidote to Loneliness, Apparently.

A true wellness gathering is something far more ancient and far more urgent: it's any intentional space where humans are invited to arrive whole, body, mind, spirit, and leave more alive than when they walked in. That's it. That's the whole definition.

Yoga

Why Breathing Matters for Emotional Regulation

Slow, smooth breathing can calm the nervous system, regulate emotions, and improve health with just five minutes of practice daily.

Start Strong But Never Finish? 4 Causes and 4 Solutions

Starting strong and quitting is common due to tedium, poor planning, and discouragement; recognizing patterns and seeking support can help overcome this.

Psychology says if you want your 70s to be the best years of your life you have to stop doing something most people don't quit until it's too late - and the quitting isn't dramatic, it's just the daily decision to stop measuring yourself by a standard that was always someone else's and never actually yours - Silicon Canals

Measuring worth by external standards leads to dissatisfaction; true value comes from personal fulfillment, not societal expectations.

Take a Secret 2-Minute Mental Vacation from Stress

Change and transition lead to anxiety, but guided imagery can effectively reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Why your successful life doesn't leave you fulfilled

Success is subjective; many feel unfulfilled despite achievements due to societal comparisons and not pursuing personal desires.

This Theory Explains Why Neurodivergents Are Burning Out

Neurodivergent individuals experience higher burnout rates, necessitating accommodations to balance job demands and resources.

fromEntrepreneur

3 weeks ago

Wellness Gurus Are Failing - Who Should Your Trust?

The wellness industry relies on hope and marketing rather than evidence, creating opportunities for personalities to exploit vulnerable people seeking health solutions.

How to Get Chummy With Your Discomfort

Regulating emotions and reactions is essential for managing life's challenges effectively.

How to Stop Taking Things Personally When You Have ADHD

ADHD can intensify the tendency to take things personally due to emotional processing and past experiences.

I recently understood that the tiredness I had been blaming on everything else - the job, the age, the schedule, the season - was not tiredness at all, it was the specific and sustained effort of living a life that wasn't quite mine, and the moment I understood that the exhaustion had a name it became possible, for the first time, to do something about it - Silicon Canals

Exhaustion often stems from emotional labor and the effort to maintain a false persona rather than physical demands of work.

fromBustle

Praise Be: You Can Fall Asleep Almost Instantly With This Hack

Massaging a specific pressure point on the inner wrist can help induce sleep and calm a busy mind.

Why Behavior Change Alone Won't Fix Your Relationship

Behavioral therapy changes observable actions, while emotionally focused therapy emphasizes emotional engagement for lasting relational change.

Some people don't fear failure. They fear succeeding and then being expected to sustain it, because the version of them that achieved it was running on adrenaline and desperation, and the person who shows up on Monday is someone quieter who doesn't know how to replicate what the emergency produced. - Silicon Canals

The fear of success stems from the pressure to replicate high performance, not from a desire to avoid good outcomes.

Finding Calm Amid the Chaos of Modern Life

Heightened anxiety among Americans can be managed by grounding in values and setting clear boundaries.

When Parts Begin to Merge: Inside Integration

Integration is a complex, lived experience involving reorganization of the self, requiring safety and support systems for healing from complex trauma.

Discovering What's Alive for You Right Now

Purpose is dynamic and should reflect what is most alive in your life right now.

I used to be unhappy and I blamed everything around me - until I realized I'd built an entire life around avoiding the one conversation I needed to have with myself - Silicon Canals

Unhappiness often stems from avoiding self-reflection and attributing life issues to external factors rather than personal choices.

Partnership on the Spiritual Path

Devon Hase states, 'People are trying desperately to fix, optimize, or escape their way out of relationship difficulty - and suffering more for the effort. Social media has made this worse! We're surrounded by images of perfect partnerships while quietly drowning in our own ordinary struggles.' This highlights the pressure couples feel in the age of social media.

Mindfulness

All Out Anxiety

Anxiety disorders affect 11% of children in the USA, impacting daily functioning and often leading to overestimation of danger.

1 month ago

"Wellnessmaxxing": When Self-Care Leads to Burnout

Wellnessmaxxing contradicts authentic self-care by promoting multitasking instead of mindfulness, rest, and recovery proven effective against stress and burnout.

6 days ago

What to Do When You Hit Life's Low Point

External crises trigger deep self-reflection, especially during midlife, leading to questions about fulfillment and the meaning of life.

Research suggests the calmest people in any room aren't naturally calm - they once had the most chaotic inner world and built stillness the way someone builds a house around a wound, one deliberate wall at a time - Silicon Canals

Calm is constructed through experience and understanding, not an inherent trait or genetic gift.

Feeling Like a Fraud in Your Own Mindfulness Practice

Surrounding oneself with experienced meditation practitioners can raise personal expectations and feelings of inadequacy during difficult times.

How Systemic Therapists Can Improve Sleep

Sleep issues are often relational problems, not just individual disorders, highlighting the need for systemic therapy in sleep medicine.

fromTiny Buddha

How to Tend to Yourself When Being Vulnerable Feels Raw - Tiny Buddha

Vulnerability and storytelling foster connection and healing, despite the fear of oversharing.

Caring for the Part of You That Wants to Die

Suicide ideation affects 15.6% of U.S. adults, with significant risk factors including mental disorders, trauma, and social circumstances.

6 days ago

3 Restorative Yoga Poses That Remind You What Rest Feels Like

Rest is essential for emotional balance, bodily repair, and longevity, yet many struggle with the concept of truly resting.

Why a Loved One Might Not Engage in Mental Health Treatment

Treatment engagement improves when it aligns with a person's life goals and identity.

6 days ago

Why Sobriety Feels Flat (and How to Bring Back the Spark)

Drinking behavior is driven by habit loops, and removing alcohol without replacing rituals can hinder sobriety efforts.

1 month ago

When Self-Care Becomes Another Thing to Be Good At

Performative self-care undermines its benefits by splitting attention between the experience and its documentation, eliminating the presence required for genuine restoration.

fromInsideHook

How Daily Frustration Is Slowly Sabotaging Your Health

Chronic anger negatively impacts mental and physical health, leading to various health issues and slower healing processes.

Stop Telling Anxious People to Be Resilient

Resilience frameworks wrongly attribute anxiety to individual weakness rather than systemic issues, leading to harmful consequences for those affected.